Wrench.



No. 712,043. Patented L E. 'GHEVR WRENCH.

(Application ffled Apr. 17, 1902.) 040 Mode l.)

Ww 3 m 3 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMOS E. CHEVRAUX, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,043, dated October 28, 1902.

' Application filed April 17,1902. Serial F0. 103,399- (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AMos E. CHEVRAUX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of ject being to provide a strong, simple, and,

quick-acting wrench and one in which the operation is controlled entirely from the handle, it being automatic in adjusting itself to position to embrace the object to be operated upon.

A further object of my invention is to determine the position or grasping force of the jaws by the pressure exerted upon the handle of the wrench.

This invention consists in the peculiar construction of the wrench and also in the combination of the parts thereof, all of which will be hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view in side elevation, partially in section, of a wrench constructed according to my invention, showing the jaws of the same in closed position. Fig. II is a view similar to Fig. I, illustrating the jaws in open position and the section being such as to illustrate more clearly the assemblage, location, and operation of the parts. Fig. III is a sectional view taken through line a: w, Figs. I or II, and showing cross-sectional view through the handle at this line.

In carrying out my invention I may use the usual stationary jaw A and the movable jaw B, or I may employ jaws adapted to embrace cylindrical objects or objects of another shape than polygonalin cross-section. The jaw A is provided with the usual ste n A, which extends into the handle 0 and is secured to said handle by forming an opening through said handle, into which the part 0 of the stem A is inserted, and the usual screw-threaded the drawings.

Instead of forming the handle 0 of Wood it may be formed of metal; but this is not essential. However, I prefer to form the handle of wood and to provide the same with a hinged section 0 which is pivoted to the handle O at 0 The hinged section 0 is located on the back of the handle or, more properly speaking, at that part of the handle which is opposite to the side on which the jaws are located or from which they extend, so that pressure brought upon the section 0 will tend to force said section inward toward the handle, it being normally held so as to project from said handle by a suitable spring, such as a, which ispreferably located as illustrated in Thus the normal tendency of section 0 is to project outward from the handle, and it will thus project when it is released from pressure.-

B represents a stem or shank which forms part of or is secured to the movable jaw B. This stem 13' is preferably formed cylindrical in shape and extends into the handle 0. The stem 13 is provided with a shoulder or collar b, against which a spiral spring D presses, the opposite end of the spring D being sustained within the handle,asat d,against which it abuts. The spring D preferably surrounds the shank or stem B at its inner end within the handle 0 and is soconstructed as to tend toward closing the jaws A and B, asillustrated in Fig. I of the drawings, while at the same time the said springs allow the jaw B to recede from the jaw A to any predetermined distance, according to the scope of the tool.

13 represents a series of ratchetteeth which are slightly undercut and which are also either formed integral with the shank or stem B at its inner end and preferably ,to the rear of the spring D or secured in this position to said stem in anysuitable manner. The inclination of the engaging faces of the ratchet-teeth B is downward and toward the jaws of the wrench.

E represents a ratchet-block which is secured within the handle 0 and secured, preferably by means of-two downwardly and forwardly inclined hangers e e, to the section 0 thus being operated in its vertical movement or its engaging and disengaging movement by the movement of said section 0 The inner face of the block E is provided with ratchetteeth which correspond with and engage the ratchet-teeth 13 (see Fig. II,) thus holding the shank B and the jaw B in predetermined position and positively when the section C is moved inward toward the handle O. The undercutting of the teeth provides a firmer grasp and positive engagement of these parts, and the inclination of the arms or hangers e e allows of the engagement of the ratchet-teeth and tends to force the jaw 13 slightly toward the jaw A when the section C is depressed. In order to provide a firmer back or stop for the lock E, I cut a portion of the shank C away, providing a recess or socket e within which said block E rests, and also form an opening 6 in the shank C for the passage of the arms or hangers e 6. These features, however, may be varied in detail and assemblage without departing from my invention.

As illustrated in Fig. III of the drawings, the movable section 0 is preferably provided with an oval or flat upper extension, which conforms to the curvature of the exterior of the handle C, allowing a firm grasp on the handle and preventing any undue injury or strain on the hand. a

The operation of my wrench is as follows: As before stated, the jaw B through the spring D always tends to travel toward the jaw A when the wrench is in the condition illustrated in Fig. I, in which case the block E is raised and its teeth disengaged from the teeth 13*. WVhen it is desired to use the wrench, the jaw B is moved away from the jaw A a suitable distance, so that the article to be operated upon can be received between the jaws, and for this purpose any attachment may be connected to the jaw B or the stem B near said jaw to be engaged by the finger, such as a knob or projection of any kind, (not shown,) or the jaw itself may be grasped and pulled back. When the article is received between the jaws A B and the position of the parts is as illustrated in Fig. I, the tendency of the spring D is to close the jaw B upon the article. The handle is then grasped, and as the hand is tightened upon the handle the section 0 is forced into the handle, causing the block E to be also forced inward toward the ratchet-teeth B and engage the same. This holds the jaw B in its adjusted position in relation to the article, and any strain brought upon the handle 0 is also brought upon the section 0 tightening the parts, and thus the greater the strain the tighter the grasp and engagement of the parts of the wrench. After the article has been turned to the maximum limit allowed on account of obstruction or range of the sweep the action of the handle is reversed, releasing the section 0 which disengages the block E, loosening the jaw B, and allowing the wrench to slide around the article to a new position for engagement. This action is continued until the required result is attained.

In setting forth this invention Ihave shown for the purpose of illustration a construction adapted for use as a monkey-wrenchg but it is obvious that the same construction with the exception of the formation of the jaws may be employed for a pipe wrench or spanner, and hence I do not wish to limit my invention to these structural features, nor do I wish the same to be limited to the assemblage of parts exactly as set forth, it being obvious that these may be changed.

What I claim is 1. A wrench comprising a movable and a stationary jaw, stems for both jaws, a handle into which both of said stems enter and are retained, a spring secured to the stem, of the movable jaw with means connected to the handle and operating in connection with the stem of the movable jaw for locking said movable jawin position, said means forming part of the grasping portion of the handle for the purpose set forth.

2. A wrench comprising a stationary and movable jaw, stems for both jaws, a handle adapted to receivesaid stems and retain them in position, a spring surrounding the stem of the movablejaw and tending to close the jaw of the wrench, ratchet-teeth connected to said stem and a ratchet-block connected to a movable portion of the handle for engaging the ratchet-teeth on the stern of the jaw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. Awrench of the type set forth having a stationary and movable jaw, the stationary jaw being rigidly connected to a handle and the stem of the movable jaw being slidably connected with the handle, a spring located within the handle and acting upon said stem for closing the jaws, means for locking said stem comprising ratchet-teeth respectively on the stem and on a movable block connected to the handle with means for normally retaining said block out of connection with said stem, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Signed at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, this 31st day of March, 1902.

AMOS E. CHEVRAUX. \Vitnesses-z E. B. DONNELLY, W. E. DONNELLY. 

